Sleeve press operating means



AJune 17, 1958 L. N. STRIKE 2,839,231

SLEEVE PRESS OPERATING MEANS Filed Jan. 3, 1956A 3 Sheets-Sheet 1Arm/VE? June 17, 1958 1 N. STRIKE SLEEVE PREss OPERATING MEANS 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 3, 1956 INVENTOR. 8400/5 /V. 57m/ 5 f. QQQZa//A aRA/EY L. N. STRIKE SLEEVE PRESS OPERATING MEANS A June' 17, 1958 3Sheets-Sheet v3 Filed Jan. 3, 1956 Y IN VEN TOR. Y0U/5 /V. 57m/E .4TTOP/VEY SLEEVE rnnss oPnnATrNG MEANS Louis N. Strike, Salt Lake City,Utah, assignor, by mesne assignments, to The American Laundry MachineryCompany, a corporation of Ohio Application January 3, 1956, Serial No.557,036

11 Claims. (Cl. 223-73) This invention relates to means for operating asleeve press to so relatively adjust the press that sleeves of a garmentdraped on the press are properly ironed.

Since sleeve lengths vary in a run of shirts being successively handledby a sleeve-pressing machine, operatorcontrolled means are providedtoefiect relative adjustment of pressing plates or platens andsleeve-draped bucks. Such adjustment is made to insure that the entirelength of the sleeves, regardless of length variations, is ironed, yetnot subjecting any adjacent parts of the shirt body to the ironingpressure of the pressing platens. Ideally the seams connecting thesleeves to the body constitute the limits of engagement of the platens.Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide noveland improved means enabling the operator to set the press quickly andeasily according to the length of the sleeves mounted thereon.

Another object of the invention is to provide operatorcontrolledmechanism of the character above referred to that sequentially carriesout first, the mentioned relative adjustment of the sleeve-draped bucksand the pressing platens and, then, the operative movement of the bucksand platens between draping or dressing and pressing positions.

The present sleeve press is an improvement of the pressing machinedisclosed in Serial No. 369,915, filed July 23, 1953, now U. S. LettersPatent No. 2,727,661. In the machine there disclosed, the pressingplatens are shifted endwise by the operator through the medium oflinkage connecting the platens and an operating handle. Thus, there is adirect connection between the operating handleand the pressing platensthat causes simultaneous Ymovement of handle and platens. Also, thehandle shown by said patent must be held steady during movement of thesleeve-draped bucks from the dressing to pressing position to insurethat the adjusted relationship is maintained.

Therefore, another object of the present invention is to ease andsimplify the adjusting operation so that the handle, rather thanoperating the adjusting means, may be moved to sleeve and seam-aligningposition and, therefore, constitute means for setting or limiting theadjusting movement of the platens.

A further object of the invention is to provide platen movement-limitingmeans that is held in a set position by power means rather than by theoperator, and which constitutes an accurate stop for the platens whenthus held in its set position.

A still further object of the invention is to provide mechanism of thecharacter referred to that automatically releases itself from its setposition after performing a pressing operation, thus insuring againstrepetition of the operation unless the handle is re-set by the operator.The invention also has for its objects to provide such means that arepositive in operation, convenient in use, veasily installed in a workingposition andV easily disconatent lid nected therefrom, economical ofmanufacture, relatively simple, and of general superiority andserviceability.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novelcombinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear inthe course of the following description. However, the drawings merelyshow and the following description merely describes one embodiment ofthe present invention, which is given by way of illustration or exampleonly.

In the drawings, like reference characters designate similar parts inthe several views.

Fig. l is a side elevational View of a sleeve press ernbodying thepresent operating means, the same being shown with portions of the sidehousing broken away to expose the mechanism, the press being shown indressing position.

Fig. 2 is a schematic view of the elements of the machine that areessential to the present invention and the manner of their operativeinterconnection.

Fig.-3 is an enlarged and broken plan viewof the operator control meansshown in the right upper portion of Fig. 2.

Fig.A 4 is a similarly enlarged sectional view of the handle-brakingmeans shown in Fig. 2, said view being taken on the line 4 4 of saidligure.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the means shown in Fig. 4.

. The sleeve press partially shown in Fig. 1, and more completely shownin the mentioned patent, comprises a cabinet-like frame 1G that has sidewalls 11 which mount guide rods 12 by means of brackets 13 aixed to saidwalls. A carriage 14 is guided for movement along said rods byengagement of tracking rollers 15 with said rods. Since said rods 12 arepreferably disposed at a rearward and upward angle, the carriage 14 ismovable, accordingly.

Said carriage mounts pressing platen means 16 which may comprise twopairs of hingedly-connected pressing platens 17, each said pair beingcarried by a pair of arms 18 mounted on the carriage. While the detailsof construction of the platen means 16 are not shown, since the same isnot a feature of the present invention, it will be understood that thearms 18 are hingedly connected to the carriage so that fluid-operatedpiston-cylinder units 19, together with suitable spring means 2l) maymove the platens between open and closed positions by causingappropriate hinging movement of arms 18. Since the carriage 14, togetherwith the platen means 16, gravitationally, seek a low position on therods 12, against the counter-balancing bias of spring 21, aduid-operated piston-cylinder unit or units 22 may be used to raise 'thecarriage and ythereby shift the platens upwardly along rods 12. A bufferspring or springs 23 may be used for absorbing any shocks attendinglowering of the means V16 after its release from a raised position. Itis the lower edge 24 of the platens 17 that is the variable that limitsengagement of the platens.

rl`he press includes buck means 25 that may comprise a tray 26 forsupporting a shirt body, and a pair of bucks 27 extending upward fromthe tray and transversely spaced thereon so that said pair of bucks canoperatively engage the pairs of platens 17, as will be described below.Each buck may be provided at its upper end with a cuff clamp .28, andwith an expander 29, that, after the sleeves aredraped on the bucks, maybe laterally outwardly projected to etect tautening of the sleevespreparatory to pressing.

The buck means 25 may be carried on a pivot 30 by means of arms 31extending between said pivot and the tray 26. The pivot 3d is so locatedin the frame 10 that the buck means 25 may assume a dressing position(Fig. l) slightly forward of an erect position and, when rearwardlytilted, a position with the bucks 27 between the pairs of'pressingplatens. V Y

A bracket 32 on frame 1t) mounts a duid-operated pis- Y ton-cylinderunit 33 which is extensible to elect movement of 4the buck means on itspivot toward the pressing platense, said unit 35 having a connection34a/ith ,theY

arms 31. Spring-means 35 effects a return movement or" the buck meansl25 from the pressing Yposition to the .ing means, it being understoodthat either the platens or the bucks may be longitudinally adjusted,since it'is necessary only to effect Vrelative adjustment ofsuch'mernbers.

Also, either the'platens or the bucks may'be moved to P IGSslngposition. Vln other words, the bucks and platens comprise cooperativepressing members, one of which is longitudinally adjustable and one ofwhich is movable into and out of pressing position.

` Such a machine may also include means 36 for operatingthe expander 29through the medium of a pedal 37. According to the present invention,the control means for a sleeve press of the type above describedcomprises, generally, setting means 4i; adapted to be manually'set inposition to align with and, therefore,rassume an adjusted position inrelation to one shoulder-sleeve seam of a pair of sleeves draped on thebucks 27, Voperator-controlled locking means 41 to simultaneouslyoperate theV mentioned'unit 22 to effect adjusting movementofthecarriage 14 and platens17 carried thereby and operate brake means 42to lock the adjusted positionof the means 4t), means 43 jaxed to andmovable with the carriage i4 and extending into operative engagementwith the setting means 4i), cooperative stop means 44 mounted in part onthe means 40 and in part onithe means 43 to actuate a control-valveassembly 45 and operate the piston-cylinder unit 33, control valve means46 controlled by said unit 33 to operate the pistonf cylinder units 19,and releasing means 47, carried by the means 4i), controlled by one ofsaid units 19 to operativelyrelease the stop means 44 and brake means42.

The manually settable means comprises an arm 50 mounted on a pivot 51 onone ofthe frame sides 11.

The free end of said arm is provided with a handle V52 and lthe arm isso directed that said handle extends for-l wardly in ready position tobe grasped by the press operator. A spring 53 is provided for biasingthe arm in an upward direction so that the portion of the arm'that isadjacent the Vhandle is opposite one of the bucks 27 and when the arm ismoved on its pivot, said handle portion has movement generallylongitudinal with respect lto the buck length. Y

The portion of the buck opposite which said arm portion moves is thatportion at which a shoulder-sleeve seam of a sleeve draped on the buckis disposed. Since shirt sleeves do not vary more than three or fourinches, and the location of the sleeve cul-l is constant asd'eterminedby the cult clamp 2S, the longitudinal position `of the mentioned seamwill vary'accordingly. VThe range understood that said unit may containa suitable lamp bulb in housing 55 andelectrical connections therefor,

Y and that the light from said bulb maybeidirected by a :lens 56 towardthe buck .as Ya spot of light. Sincemost are white, said lens maybecolored red, for :instance, to provide a red spot on the shirt',sleeyeseam orjadjacent thereto.

relative to arm 50. Such'adjustablermounting meansis indicatedV by thestud 57, carried by said arm, and a .'slot' Y5v8`throug'l'1 which saidstud extends and which' 1s provided in an extension 59 of housing'SS;The locking means 41` isshown as pneumatically operated, the presentcontrol means, generally, being so .Y

operated. It will be understood, however, that pneumatic operation,while preferred, is intended as exemplary. As shown, the means v41comprises a valve 60 mounted by means of a bracket 61 on arm'50. Saidvalve has an air inletV connection 62 and an air-outlet connection 63that are normally maintained out'of communication by a piston on theend'of stem'64. AA linger plate 46,5, pivotally mounted on said arm 50,is engaged with said stem and so directed that a inger of the handgrasping.handley 52 may'depress'said plate to cause actuation of valve69 and communicate the'pressure in connection 62 to connection 63. ThisValve 60 is Yopened* after the operator has setthe means 40 so that thebeam of light is directed as desired and while the operator Y holdslthe`handle 52 of said Vsetting means 40. Y

YTheair in connectionr63 is directed to a-,unit 66 in which isfhous'edaA diaphragm 67 and a stem68 that projected by said Ydiaphragmwhenrimpinged by air vfrom connection 63.V 'Said stem 68 controls `avalve 69 vthat is'similar V'to valve .60, the control being etfectedthrough the medium of va'control toggle 70.VV A common ybracket 71 maymountV diaphragm unit 66, valvew69 audI toggle 7 6. Valve y69 isVnormally closed and hasV an air. inlet onnection'f72V whichv may be'vconnected to the f source as connection 62, and anair outlet connection"/'Sfthat` is connectedto both Vthe unit 22 andthe brake-V means 42tooperate said'unit and means simultaneously; Since the carriage 14 isnormally in its lowermo'st position, as above explained andthe unit 22is normally not under pressure, the air from-connection V73 willrextendY the pistonro'd 74 of said unit and, by means of connection ofsaid rod and carriage 14,v theV latter andf'thie pressing platensf17mounted thereon Lwill be raised. l Y

The brake means 42 is shown in detail in Figs. L4 and 5, saidfmeanscomprising a Vxedy brake plate 75 carried by one frame' side Y1'1 as bystuds Y'76, a parallelbrale plate 77 slidinglymounted on said studsand'carrying opposed adjustable'limit screws 78, a pair of diaphragmVunits 79,1i`1ountedfon frame Vside 11 and provided with`Aprojectable'stems 8.0 inimpingement withlthe movable Abrake plate Y77,and ksprings `81 on studs 7,6"bia'sing the plate 77 Vin adirectionfopposite to the .direction of move? ment caused by stems `80.

Connection '73 is made to ttingsY 82 on the units79. T here'fore,Vthe'pressure controlled lby valve 69V Willatiiate'the diaphragms 83 ofunits 79, project stemsy v80, and j cause tirrngripping of arm 50between plates 75 and77. Since valve Z69 is4 of the self-exhaustingtypewhen n nactuated, connection 73rexhausts through saidvalve when 4toggle70 is broken, releasing arm J50-as vsprings'81fcaus` separation of theVbraking plates. Thelarm will then return to its most elevated positionlunder kinfluence of spring 53- .Y v Y Itfwill be Vseen from theforegoing that immediately upon finger-actuation of 'the'nger platehandle 65,;,tlie means V50 'is engaged .by theV brake means'so thatharr-l dle 52 may VVbe released by the operator. Since self-YVexhausting valve 60 will now be released to vreturn to trical detailsof light unit 54 are not illustrated, it will be Y Accuracy ofarmradjustment relative tothensleeyeseam closed position, connection 63vwill exhaust andV allow retraction ofrstem 68 of diaphragm unit 66.However,

toggle 70 will remain broken andrvalveV 69 open untiloverfcentertripping of spring 84 of. saidtoggleoccurs.

Y The Ameans ,43 is yshownas ganelongated member A85V Athat is afxed Vtocarriage 14 and, therefore, 'movestherewith. ,VAtits Ylower end, s,aidmember 85 yis,p,1'ovided with a forwardlfe'xtension 8,6 that,in thelowermost'position olsaid carriageextends above the tray l26V `andterminates at Vits torwardend forward of the machinejrame adgppofsite@manuels ,27 .thatismpst adjacent @Singe extension 86 movesin a pathguided by carriage guide bars 12, the same moves toward arm in anupwardly and rearwardly angled path.

The -stop means 44 is, in part, carried by the arm 50 and, in part, byextension 86. The portion of said means 44 that is carried by arm 50comprises a valve actuator 87 that is carried by said arm on a pivot 88.Said actuator 87 extends laterally from arm 50 in overstanding relationwith the end of extension 86. A spring 89 is connected to an extensionarm 90 of the actuator, said extension arm being directed from pivot 88opposite to the direction of extent of the actuator. Said spring biasesthe actuator to the lateral full-line position shown in Fig. 3.

The portion of means 44 that is carried by4 extension 86 comprises avalve 91 that has an operating end 92 and is aixed to the end of saidextension by a bracket 93. Said valve is similar to valves 60 and 69 inconstruction and has an air inlet 94 and an outlet connection 95. Saidend 92 is so located with respect to actuator 87, that the same isengaged and depressed by said actuator to open the valve when the rod 74of unit 22 is extended by air in connection 73. Although there are somedifferences in the position of the actuator, as

caused by the adjustment of arm 50, the valve end 92 may be located toinsure engagement with the actuator during all positions of adjustmentof arm 50.

Since arm 50 of the setting means 40 is firmly braked against movement,the upward movement of extension 86 and, consequently, carriage 14 andplatens 17 will be a1'- rested when valve 91 has been opened. Thus, thepressing platens 17 will assume an elevated position that corresponds tothe `adjusted position of means 40. The more elevated the means 40 andthe actuator 87, the more elevated will be the corresponding position ofthe platens.

The control valve assembly 45 comprises a diaphragm unit 96 thatreceives the pressure in connection 95, said unit having a stem 97 thatprojects in response to such pressure. A toggledevice 98 is actuated bysaid stem to move arm 99, the latter being engaged by a stem 100 of avalve 101. Said valve has an inlet connection 102 that supplies outletconnections 103 and 104 when the toggle 98 is moved to over-centerposition by stem 97 as shown in Fig. 2 by the dot-dash lines. The valvestem 100 is spring-biased, as shown, to project and close valve 101except when retracted by the toggle.

The control valve assembly 45 includes a diaphragm unit 105 that has astem 106. Projection of stem 106 breaks toggle, such projection beingcaused by air pressure in a connection 107.

A timer unit 108 is provided for timing the actuation of diaphragm unit105, the same controlling a valve 109 which has an air inlet connection110 and the connection 107 as its outlet. The timer unit 108 is merelytypical of any means that may be provided for causing actuation ofdiaphragm unit 105 at a desired time.

Connection 103 is connected by a fitting 111 to one end of cylinder 112of the piston-cylinder unit 33 that causes movement of the buck means 25from dressing to pressing position. The piston stem 113 of unit 33 isprojected by such pressure acting on the piston of said stem. As can -beseen from Fig. l, such projection of stem 113 will cause the mentionedpivotal movement of the buck means to pressing position.

The cylinder 112 is provided with a fitting 114 that is opened to thepressure supplied by connection 103 when the buck means has reachedpressing position. Therefore, pressure from said cylinder enters aconnection 115.

The control valve means 46 comprises a valve 116 that has connection 104as its air inlet and is provided with an outlet 117 that includes twobranches 118. The connection 115 controls a diaphragm unit 119 whichcauses actuation, or opening, of valve 116 when the port of fitting 114is uncovered. Since said branches 118 are then under air pressure fromconnection 104, and are connected to the 6 piston-cylinder units 19, thearms 1S are actuated to cause the pressing platens 17 to close over thesleeve-draped bucks. The pressing time is controlled by the mentionedtimer 108, since the same causes closing of valve 101 and exhaust ofconnections 103 and 104 through the vent or exhaust provided in saidvalve.

As the pistons 120 of units 19 are projected to close the pressingplatens, the piston 121 on one of said units exposes a connection 122that is provided with a valve 123 that can be set to restrict the flowin said connection, as desired. This restricted flow is used to operatethe rcleasing means 47 to cause the actuator 87 to release the valve end92. Thus, valve 91 is exhausted, and the platens 17 are held in positionby the pressure in connection 73 only.

The means 47 is shown as a fixed bracket 124 on arm 50, a cylinder 125carried by a pivot 126 on said ibracket, a piston 127 in said cylinder,and a piston stem 128 on said piston and directed to bear againstextension arm 90 of the actuator 87. Said actuator and cylinder movepivotally in the same plane, as can be seen best from Fig. 3. Theconnection 122 supplies air to cylinder 125 as controlled by restriction123. In this way the operator can control the operation of the releasemeans 47.

When stem 128 is projected, it causes the actuator 37 to swing to the`dot-dash line position of Fig. 3 and, thereby, releasing valve end 92,causing the normally closed valve 91 to close and vent, and exhaustingthe pressure in diaphragm unit 96. Now, when the timer 108 re-setstoggle 98, to close valve 101, reactuation of said valve by the toggleis prevented since stem 97 may yield to the toggle movement.

After valve 101 is closed, and when connection 103 and unit 33 areexhausted, the spring means 35 (Fig. l) will return the buck means 25 todressing position. At this time units 19 will have been rapidlyexhausted through valves 101 and 116 to allow the springs 20 to open theplatens 17. This movement of the buck means is used to trip spring orsprings 84, restore the toggle 70, move valve 69 to closed, ventingposition and, thereby, exhaust the air from connection 73, unit 22 Iandbrake means 4.2. Thus, the setting means 40 is free to return to itsnormal raised position and the carriage 14 is released to drop, Whilebeing counter-balanced by spring 21, to its normal low position.

After removal of the shirt and replacement by another, the means 40 isagain set according to the length of the sleeves of the newly mountedshirt and the operation is repeated as above described.

When the actuator 87 is removed from engagement with the valve end 92,the force of pressure in unit 22 is pre vented from further raising thecarriage by engagement with the arm 50 of a stop 129 carried by thebracket 93 that mounts valve 91.

While the foregoing has illustrated `and described what is nowcontemplated to be the best mode of carrying out the invention, theconstruction is, of course, subject to modification without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention. It is, therefore, notdesired to restrict the invention to the particular form of constructionillustrated and described, but to cover all modifications that may fallwithin the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. In a sleeve press, the improvement therewith comprising setting meansfor a pressing member of said press, said means comprising a pivoted armhaving a handle, means carried by said arm to generate a fbeam of lightfor gaging the adjusted position of the arm, and a brake for said arm tohold the same in adjusted position to enable release of the handlethereof by the operator.

2. In a sleeve press, the improvement therewith comprising setting meansfor a pressing member of said press, said means comprising a pivoted armhaving a handle, means carried by said arm to generate a beam of lightfor gaging the adj'usted position' ofy the'arm, a normally-re,-

leased brake for said arm ,to Y hold theY same in adjusted position,when the Ibrake is Set, to enable Yrelflsetlf The handle thereof by theoperaton arid means'cntwlled by the hand on saidrhandle to apply saidbrake.

'3. Ina sleeve press having a frame with a pair ofbucks on which thesleeves 'of ajgarment'are adapted Vto be draped' and havingpressing'rplatens for pressing sleeves'drapedY upon said bucks,j saidbucks and saidV platens being' movable towardY and 'away from eachother, and said platens beingrmovrable endwise of Ythe v the bucks, theyimprovement therewith comprising adjustable setting means adapted to beset in a position Y opposite to the shoulderrse'am of oneof'said'rsleeves, saidrneans being npivotally mounted ion the mentionedframe, brake means also mounted on said frame and adapted to releasablyhold the settingjmeans inV its Vad?v y justed position, and lockingmeans carried by Ythe, setting means and connected with the brake meansYandthe pressing platens to simultaneously operate VYsaid'brake means andmove the platens endwise of the bucks according to the adjustment of thesettingrneans.

` 4. In a sleeve press according to claim 3: The'locking Vmeans movingthe pressing platens in a direction' to be stopped by the setting meansto, thereby, 'locate the platens endwise of the bucksiaccording to theadjustment of the setting means. i v n l 5. In a sleeverpress accordingto claim 3: y,Stop means mounted, in part on the setting means, and aunit mounted on said frame for moving the bucks and platens toward andaway 'from each other, Vsaid, unit being operated by the stop meansafter the mentioned movementV of the platens endwise of the bucks. j ,Yf

6. In a sleeve press according to claim 5: VSaidun'it also controllingthe pressing movement of said platens when the bucks are in Vpressingpoistion,there being a timer vto control thelength of time the mentionedsleeves .are being pressed. Y

7. In a sleeve press having a pair of bucks on which sleeves, of agarment are adapted to be drapedand havingy pressing platensY forpressing said sleeves, vthe combination comprising setting means mountedon the Vframe of said press, vsaid means ,including a source lof Vlight-for setting said meansby directing a beam of, light onto the shoulderseamvof one of said sleeves,` brake means also mounted on said press andoperatively assoqidtes with the setting menne and ockemeens. monated'oii said setting 'for simultaneously*operating Vsaid, brake means to,thereby, hold Vsaid setting meansV in its set position and to instituteVrnovementl of 'the platens in a direction toward said rn-etuis,y saidplatens being stopped by said setting means, and thereby, ,locatedrelative to the 'bucks according'tothe adjustment of the settinginean's.i

8. Ina'sl'eeve press according to claim means including a handle, andsaid lockingmeans including a yinger plate, sfa'id'v plate and said'handle'heiilg a 'Y cent so Vas to beoperable by the same hand oftheoperatori v 9 fln al sleevepressaccording to claim 7: One'iof thepressing "plateris`V being providd'with an extensionparjt'ly ,Y@extensive withthe setting means, and stop means mount;v

ed, in part, on'said setting means and, in :p'artaos'aid extension, 'thetwo parts Yot said stop means4A interiengagg' V'each otherupon'movementof saidY plat'es'td control the mentioned stopping of saidplatensfacording to adjustment ofthe setting/means'. i

10.111 a sleeve press" according to claim 7: .One ofthe pressingplatensbeing provided`witl1`,anextension partly co-extensive with' thesetting means, and stopV means mounted; in part, on said settingvmeans'and,` in part, on said extension, fthe two parts of said' stop'means interengaging' ,each other 'upon' movement of'said platens tocontrol the mentioned stopping "of, said p latens according ReferencesCitedV in the le of this patent VUNITED STATES PATENTS 2,727,661 `strikeDe. 20,' 1,955Y 2,729,370 Maxwell et al. Ian.3, 195.6

7: Said settlingY

